Pharyngeal constrictor muscles

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 23 Feb 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Hacking C, Pharyngeal constrictor muscles. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 01 Jun 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-184692

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-184692

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/184692

rID:

184692

Article created:

22 Feb 2024, Craig Hacking ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:

Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Craig Hacking's current disclosures

Last revised:

23 Feb 2024, Craig Hacking ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:

Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Craig Hacking's current disclosures

Revisions:

1 time, by 1 contributor - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Gastrointestinal, Head & Neck

Sections:

Anatomy

The pharyngeal constrictor muscles are a group of involuntary muscles attached to the pharyngobasilar fascia that sequentially constrict the pharynx to propel food into the esophagus during swallowing.

Gross anatomy

The group comprises three circular muscles:

Between each muscle exists gaps that allow muscles, nerves and vessels to course towards the oral cavity and larynx.

The three bilateral longitudinal muscles arranged internal to the constrictors are:

Innervation

The pharyngeal plexus derived from the pharyngeal branches of the vagus nerves innervate the constrictor and longitudinal muscles apart from stylopharyngeus which is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve.